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l picked up a copy of the Weirs Times the other day on my way out the local supermarket, not for the letters or commentary, all of which are overtly far-right, but for the comics and puzzles. The paper has become the print version of Fox News, but hey, at least it is free. I was quite surprised though, to see my recent letter to the editor published in The Laconia Daily Sun, copied almost verbatim in a column by Niel Young.

I say almost verbatim, because he added words to my letter in quotes no less: "The ultimate shout-down in politics is to compare a political opponent to Adolph Hitler." That was not in my letter. Many believe that Trump and his actions are indeed fascist, but I do not think he is Adolph Hitler, and I find his addition of that sentence to my letter to be very troubling.He went on to invite me on his radio show and promised that I would be "treated as a lady guest should be." He ended with a call for "Clarity, my good woman." My assumption is that Mr. Young is from a bygone time when it was still okay to think that women needed to be treated differently then men. And "my good woman" is an offensive expression used to show the speaker thinks that he or she is more important than the woman he or she is speaking to.

So no, I won't be going on his radio show and I am only writing this letter to ask that he apologize for misrepresenting my letter. I did not bother writing to the Weirs Times as they would no doubt not publish anything that does not bash the left and it appears Mr. Young does read this paper.

Recently, I noticed state Rep. Robert Hull of Grafton (whose district encompasses several Newfound area towns) submitted for review, House Bill 279 to allow private businesses to permit customers to smoke in their facilities.

This is unacceptable. This is coming from a Republican who is for conserving human health and life. This is not a question of a business's right on their property, it is a question of creating an environment that compromises the health, safety, and welfare of the general public. It is one thing if a person smokes in their home. But in the private (which is actually open to the public) as well as public sector, smoking simply cannot be permitted. For one thing, this also violates the U.S. Constitution, where the right to the pursuit of life, happiness, welfare, and property come into play. I have a right to good health and to visit a smoke free-environment where ever I go. Period.

It is a known fact, that smoking creates a high risk for cancers, both directly, and indirectly via second-hand smoke. I have cancer, having been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an incurable form of blood plasma cell cancer that knows no cure currently.

In the entire Northeast as well as New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and nationwide, smoking is prohibited in the public environment. This would put New Hampshire in the unenviable position of being the only state in the entire Northeast to attempt to reverse this trend.

It is also an economic risk. To bring this back will impede and negatively impact the New Hampshire economy as well. The population is in sufficient proportion that they will avoid such facilities to the extent it could cause a financial havoc throughout this state. Smoking nationwide is trending down, not up.

There is nothing positive about Rep. Hull's Bill 279. Rep. Hull, I adamantly demand you to pull this bill immediately. I am certain this will also be opposed by many medical facilities and hospitals, along with the general public as well. The one voter who wants this bill is in a significant minority. This voter, myself, is among the substantially larger majority to disapprove of such a bill.